Makaravilakku Festival UPSC

Makaravilakku Festival UPSC | Why In The News ? 

Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala Was Celebrated In Sabarimala Recently .

Makaravilakku Festival in Sabarimala:

• It is celebrated at the sacred grove of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.
• It is an annual seven-day festival, beginning on the day of Makar Sankranti when the sun is at the summer solstice.
• The highlight of the festival is the appearance of Makarajyothi– a celestial star which appears on the day of Makar Sankranti on top of Kantamala Hills.
• Makara Vilakku ends with the ritual called ‘Guruthi’, an offering made to appease the gods and goddesses of the wilderness.

Indian Harvest Festivals :

Makar Sankranti: 

• The festival of Makar Sankranti will be celebrated in Karnataka when the Sun enters the Makar zodiac and the days begin to lengthen compared to nights.
• The day marks the onset of summer and the six months auspicious period for Hindus known as Uttarayan, the northward movement of the sun.
• As a part of the official celebration of ‘Uttarayan’, the Gujarat government has been hosting the International Kite Festival since 1989.

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Different Names Of Makar Sankranti In India : 

• Lohri by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs
• Sukarat in central India
• Bhogali Bihu by Assamese Hindus
• Pongal by Tamil and other South Indian Hindus.

Pongal: 

• In South India and particularly in Tamil Nadu
• It’s the festival of Pongal which is being celebrated over 4 days at harvest time.

Magh Bihu: 

• In Assam and many parts of the North East, the festival of Magha Bihu is celebrated. 
• It sees the first harvest of the season being offered to the gods along with prayers for peace and prosperity.

Uttarayan:

•  Gujarat celebrates it in the form of the convivial kite festival of Uttarayan.

Maghi: 

• In Punjab, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Maghi. Bathing in a river in the early hours of Maghi is important.

Saaji: 

• In Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is known as Magha Saaji. 
• Saaji is the Pahari word for Sankranti, the start of the new month. 
• Hence this day marks the start of the month of Magha.

Khichdi: 

• The festival is known as Kicheri in Uttar Pradesh and involves ritual bathing.

Shakrain ( In Bangladesh ) : 

• is an annual celebration of winter in Bangladesh, observed with the flying of kites.

Maghe Sankranti ( Nepal ) : 

• Its is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Magh in the Vikram Samvat Hindu Solar Nepali calendar (about 14 January).